It seems counter intuitive doesn’t it?
Productive Rest.
Aren’t those two mutually exclusive? Yet, as an entrepreneur and leader learning how to rest with a clear purpose is one of the most powerful tools we can implement to transform our work, our faith, our life. Unfortunately, it is the one tool that rarely makes it out of our tool belt to be fully deployed.
As I’m writing this, Todd and I are returning from our third annual quarterly retreat in Colorado. It’s the THIRTEENTH WEEK – the beautiful blip in time between 90 days of pushing hard toward our milestones. It’s a welcome intentional reprieve. Leaving home, I had a very clear four fold purpose to what seemed to be a luxuriant time away from our daily grind. I knew that by implementing this secret recipe for rest, I would return fully recharged and loaded down with new ideas that I can’t wait to put into action. The time away far exceeded all my expectations!!
During this 13th week, I strongly encourage you to put my recipe for R..E.S.T to the test and come back stronger than ever. It does require planning ahead. At the beginning of every year I map out this time away, make the reservations, pay the deposits – doing so reduces my excuses list when the time to actually leave draws near.. A getaway of differing lengths at the end of each quarter. Our Fall getaway of three weeks is our longest time away to date, and involves some significant prep on our part.
For instance this year, in the three months prior I was slammed with my real estate business and tying up loose ends with contracts. I set deadlines of when I would no longer take on new work, so that I could reach a finish line before we left. I put key people in place to take over projects while I was gone. Making sure my clients feel taken care of in my absence is of utmost important to me. Paying careful attention to finances before leaving is also a big agenda item. All of this is possible if you have a plan in place. I know “planned spontaneity” sounds like as much fun as “productive rest” but preparing for rest makes it all the more possible and REWARDING!
Once all the details are settled, my recipe for R.E.S.T is ready for action and we hit the road! The distance and amount of time away is totally up to you, but I highly recommend at least a weekend 100% distraction free. This is what you’ll want to know to get the most out of your time of rest.
This is your time to be distraction free. Take some serious time to REFLECT on what’s been going well, what needs to be changed and what you need to toss. Celebrate your wins from the last 90 Days, even if you have to grapple to find them! Work through what didn’t go well and decide if you need to toss it or rework how it’s implemented.
RESET your mind around your goals, strengthen your relationship with what you are working toward in work, faith and life. To reset would be to put into place again. Over the course of 90 days our ship can start to drift away from our original target. Take this time to remind yourself WHERE you want to be, WHO you want to be on New Year’s Eve of this year and determine HOW you will get there. Get the ship back on course!
Use the time away to RENEW your mind, fill up your cup for your next season of work. Are doubts starting to creep in and give you all the reasons why you can’t get to the finish line? During this time read the scriptures, listen to books, absorb the works of other authors and get ready for a fresh start!
Do things that you truly ENJOY! ! If you are taking time away with your spouse or a friend, set the expectation for what you are wanting to accomplish. If you’re like me and don’t enjoy amusement parks and huge crowds don’t agree to spend your time doing that. Remember this is your time away to R.E.S.T
Personally, the most enjoyable things for me are hiking and cycling with my husband, getting a massage, wine and cheese hour on the front lawn of the cabin, looking up at Pagosa Peak, and going to our favorite restaurants. I truly enjoy that and it restores me. Make a list of the things you truly enjoy and do those things!
I can’t stress enough the importance of simply being STILL. Create space in your time away to simply sit and think those thoughts that need to be processed through. We are so used to moving and doing, being still actually takes practice. It may actually feel unsettling to be confronted with our own thoughts. Take them one at a time, like a single rubber band, stretch it out to its capacity and then let it fly.
I, personally love that being still does not require us to lay out in a catatonic state. For me being still is more about having a quiet mind, free from distractions, absent of the artificial noise of tech and being able to hear myself think. Going on a hike, a mountain bike ride through the forest or gardening with the phone in a far away place is equivalent to being still and free to think.
Take this time to TRAVEL. Move yourself out of your comfort zone during this time. Go someplace new outside of the four walls of your home. It does not need to be far away but I encourage you to go AWAY! Take in the beauty of nature. Marvel at God’s creation. When we travel, we move away from the daily grind and it’s easier to remove the distractions and truly relax.
What a beautiful opportunity we have at regular set periods of time, to take a step back and truly enjoy our one precious life. The amazing part about stepping back is that when you choose to step back in you are infinitely better for having taken the time to R.E.S.T!
